Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-11-03
Elhu B. Washburne Dead.
The Former Secretary of State and
Minister to France Breathes
His Last in Chicago.
Review Of Notable and Honorable
Career of the Distinguished
Statesman and Diplomat.

The deceased had apparently so completely
recovered from his late Illness that his Sons
and daughters had returend TO their homes,
il being the general feeling that he was IN bet
ter health than any time since Ars. wash
burne's death, and his death was a ON
plete surprise to his family ard friends.
The Washburne family came from TIE
best Of Revolutionary and Puritan stock,
their ancestor. John Washburne, being the
first secretary OF the Council OF Ply mouth
The father OF Elihu f.. Washburne and SIX
brothers was a native OF Massachusetts
and u resident OF Maine, in which latter
state his family was reared. The iather,
Israel Washburne, was n farmer andstore-
keeper at Livermore, Oxford county,
District OF Maine" where Elisu was
born in September, 11Sl6. There
were seven sons, most OF "hom'
have attained distinction in political, mil
itary and civil life. Tho best known oil
these are Israel Washburne, n member OF
congress from Maine and governor oil that
state; Caldwallader c.. Washburne, n mem
Der oil congress from Wisconsin, a major
general in the army and governor OF WIS
consin; and Gen. William ID. Washburne,
an ex member Of congress from Minnesota,
n soldier in IKE war, and at present q
prominent miller and railroad magnate oil
Minneapolis. 0fthe seven brothers, sidney,
IST1el anu AHthd ittutE hbNO bNNh N
some time. The first step taken on his own
account by Eiihu WashbuTne. after helping
his father in the store for several years,
was to secure the position OF printers
devil' in the office OF the Christian lntell-
gencer at Gardner, Me-, where ne passed a
wear. He afterward obtained a better
position in the office Of the Kcnncbec
Journal, the leading Wing organ oil the
district, and it was during this early news.
paper experiences that he imbibed much oil
his political iaith and convictions. In
1886 Mr.. Washburne, then a young
man Of twenty, began the study OF law,
entering the Office OF Hon John Otis, a dis
tinguished lawyer and member OF congress,
residing at HaIlowell, an ~'aristocratic
town in the Maine district. During this
time Mr.. Washbnrne tool up the study oil
the languages. and applied himself diligent-
" to his self-edueation. Judge Otis was
greatly impressed with thefa ithfulness and
ambitious character OF his law clerk, and
assisted him in various ways, dyanclng
the money to pay for his attendance at
the Cambridge Law school, where Mr..
Washburne entered in 1889. In the spring
OF 1910 Mr.. Washburne started for
the West, and settled at Galena, Ill.
He entered with zest into the Har-
risou campaign Of that TALL,
and came to the front prominently
as a Wing speaker. This active par
~ticipation in the politics OF that day
earned him a good reputation and brought
him considerable practice as a lawyer. In
1874 h. was a delegate to the Wing nation.
al convention at Baltimore, assisting in
the nomination of Henry Clay.
Mr.. Washburne was a leading advocate
OF thu old Galena < Chicago Union road,
one OF the pioneer stems OF the greatNorth-
western system, the first ten miles OF which
were built in lS4S. During this same year
he was a candidate for congress, but was
defeated by Col. Baker. BY the aid OF the
FreeSoilers Mr.. Washburne succeeded Tour
years later in defeating Thompson
Campbell, the Democratic candidate,
by q majority Of 2SG. Mr.. Washburne
was reelected term after term, carrying
the district or going along with it into the
make Of the new Republican party just
previous to the war. The first reelection
was the result OF a union movement cul-
minating in n Republican coalition,
which gavo Mr.. Washburne a majority oi
5000. The majority secured in 1860 at
the time OF his third reelection, was 49,
Oil, the largest majority given any
member of that congress. On the
floor Of the house, and in the i'm
portant chairmanships held by him
NOTABLY Of the committees on appro-
~priatiohs and commeree-Mr. Washburne
achieved deserved distinction and gained
an enviable reputation for eminent abili-
~ and strict integrity. He was regarded
as perhaps the nearest friend of President
Lincoln. During the civil var Mr.. Wash
burne was enabled TO bestow n great ia
yor on Gen. Grant, for whom he enter
tanned n strong liking. This favor consist
ed Of the presidents commission of senior
brigadier general from Illinois. This act
OF friendship was followed up later
by Mr.. Washburne's efforts in Sc
curing the legislation making Grant
first lieutenant general and after
ward general OF the armies. Mr..
Washburne was prominent in the impeach-
ment proceedings against Andrew John
son, and was Unidentified with all tho i'm
portant legislation OF a period covering
seventeen consecutive years; opposing nu-
merous railroad subsidies and especially
the Pacific railroad legislation changing
the government lien from FIRST to cecond
mortgages. When Gen. Grant became
president he appointed Mr.. Washburne
secretary Of state. But his health failing
him shortly a~fterward, Mr.. Washburne
was forced to resign early in 1869. He
was then made minister to France.
On the breaking out Of the war between
France and Prussia Minister Washburne
came into immediate prominence, and
found himself called on to perform the
most exacting and laborious duties, as
well as some OF the meat delicate known
to foreign diplomacy. The archives of the
German embassy were turned over to
Minister Washburne, and the latter's ser.
vices were requested as a matter ofnation-
al hospitality in securing the safe trans.
portation through tho French lines OF the
30, 600 German residents OF Paris, whole.
sired to return to their native country
on the breaking out oihostilities, in accord
ence with the terms OF international
comfy. This required the utmost tact
and rare abilities as a diplomat, preserv-
ing friendly relations with France while
performing this gracious service to Ger.
many. Mr.. Washburne succeeded most
admirably. Tho American legation he.
zane the common resort OF the oppressed
OF all nations, and to all Minister Wash
burne extended every possible assistance.
During the terrors OF the Mr..
Washburne was the only foreign min
lister who remained in Paris. For
his distinguished and heroic services
during the siege OF Paris Mr..
Washburne has received the thanks
OF thousands among the German people
and other nationalities, and been warmly
complimented by the governments OF
several nations. Emperor William con.
ferred upon him the Order of the Red
Eagle, n of the highest in the
gift OF the German crown and wrote
him a personal letter expressing his graf
itude and esteem, sending with it a ieweled
star oil great value and an oil painting oil
himself. Saxony, Portugal. Mexico and a
number oil other European and South
American principalities were also prompt
in making their Acknowledgements OF
services performed in behalf of their
subjects. Mr.. Washburne returned to
this country after a residence OF nearly
nine years in Paris. His life after that
time was quiet and retired for the most
part and largely passed in his own library
among his books. manuscripts, paintings
and eneravings. His name has been men.
TONED In connection with the presidency
more than once, and in 1880 he was a can.
didate before the convention which nomi
mated Garfield. Since his return to this
country. in 1877, Mr.. Washburne lived ia
Chicago. His wife died in March last. His
eldest son, Gratiot, who was located In
New York, died in December last, and the
rest OF the family who are still living arr
as follows: Hampstead Washburne. city
attorney OF Chicago; Marie, now Mrs. A. III,
Fowler, OF Denver; Susie, now Mrs. w. y.
Bishop. oil BRIDGEPORT, Conn; Pitt. who i
living in the old Washburne homestead M
Livermore, Me- where he has charge of thu
Washburne memorial library OF . 1000 vol
umes. and Elihu. now preparing Tor a civ.
IL engineering course at Kensingston, N. Y
The Republican Presidential Con-
vention.
Chairman Jones, OF the Republican mn.
tional committee, has issued the following
The National Republican committee Il
hereby called TO meet Thursday, Dec. 3
1881 at the Arlington house. Washington
u. q, at 1880 a. m, to fix the date and
place oil meeting of the next Republican
nationai convention; and for the transac.
ZION gu sueh other business as may proper.